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Basking in the "Small Stuff" can make a big difference Jul 31, 2026

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While we focus on success or fulfillment as the path to happiness, author Ian Bogost thinks we are overlooking a whole category of life experiences — delightful, small moments of sensory gratification — that can make our lives better. In his new book, The Small Stuff, Bogost says modern life, including our work life, has disconnected us from the physical world, but we'd all feel better if we found a way to rediscover that connection.

Kids need to read for fun. Here's why Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Fewer adults and kids are reading for pleasure, prompting some experts to say we’re in the midst of a literacy crisis. But what do we lose if we’re not reading? And what you can do to get kids to pick up a book.

Trump and Zelensky strike a friendlier tone Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a positive tone after his meeting this week with U.S. President Donald Trump. Francis Farrell, a senior reporter at the Kyiv Independent, talks about why Ukraine's gains on the battlefield could be behind the shift in the leaders' relationship, and Maria Popova, Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University, discusses what Zelensky's request to reinvigorate the diplomatic process could look like.

Hundreds evacuated as wildfires rage across B.C Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

.Out of control wildfires in southeastern B.C. have forced hundreds of people to evacuate, with some losing everything they have in the blaze. We hear from Lori Daniels, the co-director of the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia, on how this summer's wildfires compare to fires in the past, and how now more than ever, more investment is needed from the province to make communities, homes, and eco-systems more fire-resilient.

Cracks in the U.S.-Israel relationship? Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the Israeli Prime Minister at the White House on Tuesday for the first time in five months. We'll talk to Politico's diplomatic correspondent, Felicia Schwartz, about the recent signs of strain in what has always been a close relationship between the two countries — and how U.S. public opinion on support for Israel and its policies has shifted recently.

Will turning on Canada help Republicans at midterms? Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

More Republicans in the US have joined President Donald Trump in criticizing and threatening Canada, with a barrage of insults after wildfire smoke moved south of the border.

Robert C. Rowland, professor of rhetoric and political communication at the University of Kansas, tells us what's behind it, and Maryscott Greenwood, founder of Ottawa Street Strategy, on how Canada can fight back.

Why people are betting on wildfires and climate change Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

In Canada, France, Spain and elsewhere, people are fleeing from wildfires. As climate emergencies increase, prediction markets are taking wagers on fires, smoke, hurricanes and heatwaves. Is it desensitizing people? Or could it help raise engagement with the climate crisis?

Can we stop the harm of “aging out” of disability support? Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

When children with disabilities become adults, they often lose the services they've come to rely on. A decade ago, two young people in Manitoba decided to try to change the system. Now the province has completed a pilot project that improved access. But will it create lasting results?

ER doctors are burnt out and leaving the job Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

While being in an ER is tough for patients and their families, it's no easier for doctors. A new study reveals that Canadian ER doctors are at their limits with burn out, stress, and fatigue. Many are leaving the profession altogether. We speak with three doctors who have worked in ER, including the lead author of the study, to hear what they're experiencing and what needs to change.

Wildfires in B.C. merge, threatening more communities Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

The Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek fires were already roaring out of control near Clinton, British Columbia. But over the weekend, they merged, threatening communities northwest of Kamloops.We speak with Bernice Weihs-Anderson, a longtime resident of Clinton, B.C., and a former member of the village's volunteer fire department about her evacuation on Friday, and what her community needs right now.

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